The mission of OCH Conservation Foundation is to enhance diverse wildlife habitats, strengthen critical connections with nature, and preserve Northern Virginia’s unparalleled rural landscape. As development pressure increases across our region, protecting this land has never been more urgent.
Join the Clifton Institute and OCHCF President Rae Stone for an afternoon at her property in The Plains. This casual gathering is for local landowners interested in managing their properties to benefit native plants and wildlife.
We’ll begin the meetup with introductions before taking a walk around the property to see some of Rae’s conservation projects firsthand. Rae has done a little bit of everything on her property, including extensive Japanese Stiltgrass management, native plantings, and the creation of a beautiful naturalistic garden inspired by the native meadows of the Piedmont, which was designed and installed by Claudia West of Phyto Studio. After the walk, we’ll have a social hour with refreshments.
Meet like-minded landowners, get answers to your trickiest technical questions, and find inspiration for incorporating conservation land management on your own property!
Spaces are limited. Please RSVP to attend by emailing kingram@cliftoninstitute.org.
This publication serves as a valuable tool for landowners, offering expert contacts, program listings, and guidance on managing the unique challenges of rural property stewardship. Each participating organization contributed its own insights and expertise, resulting in a resource designed to benefit both long-time residents and newcomers alike.
Few people embodied Virginia’s Hunt Country traditions and commitment to conservation quite like Malcolm Matheson III. Known throughout the region for his decades of leadership with the Orange County Hounds (OCH), Matheson is remembered not only as a master horseman and outdoorsman, but as someone whose generosity, humor, and love of Hunt Country left a lasting mark on the community.
Following his passing in February, those who knew him fondly recalled the “twinkle in his eye,” his legendary storytelling, his mentorship, and the lasting impact he had on those around him. In honoring Matheson’s life, his family invited memorial contributions to support the OCH Conservation Foundation. In his memory, OCHCF established a scholarship dedicated to stewardship of the land and community he deeply loved.
On August 1, riders from across the region gathered at Jim and Shannon Davis’ beautiful Little River Farm for an unforgettable day of learning, conservation, and community in support of the OCH Conservation Foundation. Organized by the Orange County Hounds, Eleanor Morison, and Helen Bretell as a benefit event for the Foundation, the foxhunting clinic brought together an extraordinary lineup of Olympians and lifelong foxhunters: Bruce Davidson, Lynn Symansky, Lauren Nicholson, and Juliet Graham.
Their combined experience offered participants a rare opportunity to learn from riders who have excelled both in international competition and in the traditions of the hunt field. While each has competed at the highest levels of equestrian sport, what made the clinic especially meaningful was their shared passion for foxhunting and their generosity in passing that knowledge on to others.
Development is accelerating across our region. Once open land is lost, it’s gone for good.
Your support helps conserve open space, protect wildlife habitat, and preserve the natural character of Virginia’s countryside.
From working farms to critical ecosystems, every acre protected today ensures this landscape endures for generations to come.
© OCH Conservation Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization • EIN: 83-3910834
The OCH Conservation Foundation is proud to work alongside leading national organizations, local landowners, and conservation leaders across the Piedmont region.
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